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AUTOMATIC MUSIC AL INSTRUMENT.

No. 290,697. Patented Dec. 25 1883.

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No. 290,697. Patented Dec. 25,1883.

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J. MGTAMMANY, Jr.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 290,697. Patented Dec. 25, 1883.

Witnesses. Inventor.

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UNITED STATES Parana JOHh MOTAMMANY, JR, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO ALEXANDER MOTAMMANY, OF AKROX, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC MUSlCAL lNSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,697, dated December 25, 1883,

Application filed March 6, 183). I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN DICTAMMANY, J12, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful improvements in organs or other analogous wind-instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic organs and similar musical instruments which are operated or governed by means of a perforated sheet of paper or other material con structed somewhat upon the principle of the pattern-cards of aJacquard loom. Most of its features are equally applicable to those windinstruments in which the blast of air passes through said perforated sheet, and to those in which the said sheet is used solely to govern mechanism which opens a passage from the bellows to the reeds. Thelatter kind posesses some important advantages over the former; but they need not here be dwelt upon. My claims, except where specially restricted to one form, apply equally to both.

The said invention consists in certain improvements, in, first, the mechanism operated by the treadle to actuate the machine; second, the device for feeding, winding, and guiding the perforated music-sheet; third, in the mechanism sometimes employed between the music-sheet and the reed-valves, to open the latter at will and, finally, in various other parts of the instrument, and in the combination thereof, all as hereinafter set forth.

As the points which are novel will be stated in the claims appended to and forming part of this specification, I need not mention them more fully or particularly here.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan view of an automatic or mechanical organette embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a side view of the same; Fig. 3, a vertical section of the same; Fig. 4, avertical section of the driving mechanism; Fig. 5, a plan view of part of the music-sheet. The foregoing figures, except Figs. at and 5, illustrate, exclusively, an instrument in which the music-"sheet has [the form of an endless belt. Fig. 6 represents a detail view of a pivoted latch or arm used in said form of myimproved instrument. Fig. 7 represents, however, a music-sheet which does not have its ends fastened together, and the rolls which operate it and on which it is wound, also the supportingframc and the lever which is governed by said sheet. These parts are shown detached from the instrument, and most of them in vertical section. Fig. 8 represents in perspective a detail view of two of the rolls and a part of the musicshcet shown in Fig. 7.

In the several figures of said drawings, except Fig. 7, the same letters indicate the same parts.

A designates the platform or table upon which the operative parts of the instrument are mostly supported, while in the space A below said table is placed the bellows B,which create the current of air for vibrating the reeds. Two pedals or treadles are employed 0 for operating said bellows, and D for feeding the music-sheet. These treadles or pedals are in the lower portion of space A below platform A.

F designates a reed-board, which is sup ported 011 the rear part of said platform and above said bellows, and contains the reeds G and the cells H. These reeds are of different pitch for producing different musical sounds. The valves of the reed-cells are shown at I I, provided with pins or stems J J. The valveehamber K, below the reeds, communicates with bellows B, so that the current of air caused by said bellows may pass through any one of the reeds G whenever the valve of said reed is open.

From the treadlc D a strap, Q, is extended up above the platform A, its other end being attached to a disk or wheel, N, which turns loosely on a shaft, L, that is journaled in bearings on said platform. This disk carries a hooked pawl, O, which engages with the teeth of aratchet-wheel, I, that is fast on said shaft, as shown in Fig. 4. Disk N, as shown in Fig. a, is constructed with an enlarged portion and a lesser portion. The strap Q, is connected to said lesser portion, and a second strap, Q, is connected to said larger portion, the other end of said second strap being attached to a retracting-spring, Q The alternate action of treadle D and spring Q} causes said pawl or dog 0 to communicate a step-by-step motion IOO to ratchet-wheel P. A retaining-pawl, engages with said ratchet-wheel. of these actuating devices is more particularly as follows: The downward movement of the treadle causes a forward movement of disk N and operating-dog O. which latter, engaging with ratchet-wheel P, moves said ratchetwheel forward. The retaining-pawl 0 then holds the ratchet-wheel P at the point thus reached, while the retracting action of spring Q turns said disk and pawl back to their original position. The result is an intermittent forward motion of shaft L, with no backward motion thereof. \Vhen rapidly operated, the periods of rest are very short indeed.

R designates a strong band-spring, which is coiled around said shaft, its inner end being attached thereto, and its outer end attached to a barrel, S, which is free to turn on a shaft, L. The construction and operation of this barrel are like those of a common watch-barrel, and it carries a gear-wheel, T, (shown in Fig. 1,) which meshes with and operates a pinion, U, fast on the shaft (1 of a roll, 6, as shown in Fig. 4. The pinion U meshes with a similar pinion, k, fast 011 the shaft 9 of a roll, f, which is above said roll 0. These rolls receive between them the music-sheet 0, Fig. 4, and feed it forward. This sheet may be either an ordinary strip or an endless band or belt. The latter is shown in Fig. 1. Either form may be converted into the other by attaching or detaching the ends of the sheet to or from one another. The gearing together of wheels T U affords a very direct and convenient method of operating the lower feed-roll, 6, directly from said shaft L.

The actuating devices above described have been found very efficacious for thepurposes stated; but I may employ many other forms to effect the same result. Most of the features of my invention are not dependent on the kind of motor employed.

\Vhen an endless music-sheet is used, (such as that shown in Fig. 1,) it is necessary to provide for moving the upper feed-roll out of the way. To effect this I mount said upper roll, f, in a frame, 71 which is hinged to the top of a supplementary platform or table, A, that is supported on platform A. By turning said frame back 011 its hinge it can be removed laterally from within the endless belt of music-sheet C, so that another music-sheet can be substituted therefor, thus readily allowing the change of tunes. The same result may be effected by removing the frame hfrom theinstrir ment without disturbing the endless belt. To allow such disconnection I use for the hinges d etachable pintles m m, which pass'through lugs a 02, attached to the frame h, and into lugs or small standards 1) p on the top of supplementary platform A. frame It is left without attachment on the hinge side to the rest of the machine. Each standard 1) 1) has two holes in it, either of which will re- The operation By withdrawing these'pintles the standard. By shifting the pintles from the forward holes to the backward holes, or vice versa, the frame h is moved laterally across the platform A and the actuating mechanism. This sidewise motion of said frame is serviceable when the music-sheet is made with two series of holes arranged in parallel rows, as shown in Fig. 5, also when it is desirable to change the pitch of the tune by shifting the perforations from over one set of reeds to a position above another set thereof. Each row or series of perforations is adapted to play one tune, and after that piece is finished it is only necessary to shift the frame laterally, as stated, in order to bring the other set or series of perforations into use. This lateral shifting may be effected by other means besides the duplication of the holes in the ,lugs 19 1). For example, an adjusting screw rod is often employed with satisfactory result. The devices for lateral adjustment of the frame and sheet are also important; but the attachment of the frame h so that it can be removed out of the way of the music-sheet is more important than either, since without that feature endless music-sheets could not practically be employed. My improvements, as shown, make it possible to accomplish this in either one of two waysnamely, by turning the frame it back upon its hinge, or removing it entirely from the instrument on withdrawing the detachable pintles; but either method by itself comes within my invention.

It is very desirable to employ means for varying the degree of power exerted on and by spring R, in order to retard or accelerate the time of the music at will. For this purpose (when the hereinbefore-described spring-n10 tor is employed) I use a bent or segmental shield, 0 which is mounted loosely on shaft L, behind ratchet-wheel I, and extends over said ratchet-wheel. This shield is made adjustable in a rotary direction upon said shaft, and covers some of the teeth of said ratchet-wheel. By adjusting said plate toward the dog 0 it may cover one or more of the ratchet-teeth on which the said dog would otherwise operate, and its action will thus be shortened. The reverse adjustment will lengthen the action of the dog. The time of the tune can thus be regulated to any desired degree.

The frame h is provided with a transversely-grooved roll or bar, L, which bears against the music-sheet above latches hereinafter described, to hold said music-sheet down to its work. The side bars of said frame serve to guide the music-sheet, as shown in Fig. 4, as the latter is fed by rolls 6 f. The upper roll, f, is vertically movable in its bearings in the said side bars of said frame, and is held down to' its work by the pressure of spring Z, as shown in Fig. 2.

The gear-wheel T, hereinbefore. described, engages with a pinion on the shaft of a fluted or toothed roll, V, the other end of which shaft ceive the end of the pintle m that enters said is extended at Y, and provided with a 00g wheel, Z, that operates a worm, b, the shaft of which carries a fan, a, which acts as a balance-wheel for shaft L and Y and devices affected thereby. Said fluted roll V turns in bearings \V XV on table or platform A. The said toothed roll V is adapted to engage a tooth, f, formed on the upper side of each one of a series of horizontally-sliding rods, 3 which have a pin-and-slot connection at a with the lower arms of a series of bell-crank levels, b. Each lever 1) opens a different reedvalve, and this opening is effected whenever its rod y is thrown into engagement with said rotating fluted roll V. This engagement is governed by the perforated music-sheet O, as follows: A series of latches or arms, U, are pivoted at their rear ends to the bearing-plates \V, which, as before stated, are erected on table or platform A. This pivoting may be effected by means of a rod extending across from one bearing-plate W to another, suitable washers being interposed between said arms or latches. The free end of each latch or arm U is provided with a point, which enters the perforations r of music-sheet O as these successively come opposite said point. These points also pass into the grooves of the pressure-roll hereinbefore described. A rod, u, eX- tends downward from each arm to one of a corresponding series of levers, s, which are pivoted near their middles at t and weighted at their front ends. The rear end of each one of said levers sis formed with a flat nose, g, which bears against the under side of one of said rods y. lever s is thus to hold its rod g in engagement with fluted roll V and cause the opening of the reed-valve governed by said parts. This tendency is, however, neutralized by the pressure of music-sheet 0 against the point of the appropriate pivoted arm or lever-latchU, but when said point passes up into one of the openings 1- the lever 8, connected to said pivoted arm, operates to effect the engagement which opens the valve, as stated. lVhen said opening 7 passes said point, the pressure of the sheet again disengages the said rod g from the said fluted roll V. The valve-spring of its reed-valve then restores said rod to its original position. The said bell-crank levers turn in bearings 0, and the slots of rod 3 in which said levers engage, are made to taper, as shown in the drawings, so that the actuated end of each rod can be inserted into the larger end of the appropriate slot and slipped to the other end of said slot, where it fits tightly. These ends of the bell-crank levers are recessed circumferentially to form terminal shoulders, which prevent the accidental sepa ration of said parts. Each latch or pivoted arm U has its point t pivoted to the main part of said arm at In, so that when the end of an opening or perforation, 1-, of the music-sheet is reached the said sheet will not be impeded by said point, but the latter will turn freely on its pivot. The weight of each point 'i is The tendency of each weighted adjusted with relation to its pivotal point so that it will automatically tilt up into the position shown in Fig. 6 when not forced down by said music-sheet.

A lever, D, is arranged so that it can be turned or otherwise operated at will to hold down the operating ends of levers s. so as to prevent the engagement of rods 3 with fluted roll V. \Vh en the instrument runs down, some of said rods are often left in engagement with said roll, and the instrument at starting would not operate well without some such device as this lever. A screw or spring or other equivalent device may be arranged to effect the same result.

\Vhen the music-sheet is to be moved backward, or rewound in that direction, it becomes necessary to get out of the way the noses of levers s and also the upper feed-roll. This lever (or other device substituted as stated) D effects the former result, and the movability of the upper feed-roll allows the last obstruc tion to be withdrawn and the music-sheet to be moved backward or rewound freely.

Of course, the various devices hereinbefore described for opening the reed valves will not be required when the music-sheet itself acts as a valve. In that case the current of air passes directly through said sheet to or from the reeds. \Vhen a strip with its ends unattached is used as a music-sheet, the said strip must be wound on rollers or otherwise after passing over the reeds, in order to be in condition for subsequent use. Then rollers are employed, it is evident that the strain of the windingroll will increase as the same increases in size, and the operation of the instrument would become impracticable unless some compensating device were employed. In Fig. 7 Ihave shown such a device.

Fig. 8 shows the roll D used as a driver as well as a winder.

A frame or casing, D, attached to the main part of the instrument, has rolls 0', D'-, F, and D journaled in its side pieces. The lowest roll, D, is the driver, corresponding to e of the other figures. F is the grooved upper feedroll corresponding to f of the other drawings. This draft of roll I) on music-sheet O pulls the sheet 05 from one of the winding-rolls D or C, which, by friction, causes the other one of said winding-rolls to rotate in the opposite direction and wind the music-sheet thereon. In the ordinary operation of the machine the music-sheet passes from the lower or rewinding roll, D", to the upper roller, C but this may be reversed when this becomes desirable.

The friction of the rolls D O" and the musicsheet thereon will prevent the elasticity of the paper from causing either of the rolls to fly around and unwind. 0* and D are made vertically movable in their bearings. The music-sheet O is attached at its lower end to roll D by entering a longitudinal slot of the same, as shown in Fig. 7 It passes from said roll D around said pressure-roll F acting, as

IIO

before described, on the nose or point of lever B", (similar in function to the latches before described,) and thence to the upper roll, 0 This upper roll rests on the lower roll, I)", and is made capable of vertical motion in its bearings, so that as said upper roll increases in diameter it rises slightly, and as it increases in weight it may allow the lower one to slip under it. Thus the continual change in the relative sizes of the upper and lower rolls of paper is prevented from doing any damage whichever way the sheet is wound.

It is desirable to hold the pressure bar or roll of the instrument against the music-sheet and table by spring-pressure. This may be conveniently effected by hinging the supports of said pressureroll to the frame or casing and using springs to bear on its gudgeons. In Fig. 8 one of said springs, F, is employed, bearing on one of the supports or bearingarms F* of roll F". This arm or support is pivoted to one of the side plates or bars of the supporting-frame D*. The opposite plate or bar is removed, as also the support and spring on that side. The pressure bar or roll F in this case does not bear on the sheet 0 immediately above the valves, and therefore there is no occasion for grooving it. The function of said roll is, however, the same as that of the pressure-roll shown in the previous figures of the drawings. Of course the pressureroll may be arranged in slotted bearings like 0 and D; or any other equivalent method of at tachment may be employed.

The music-sheet having two or more sets of perforations representing (ilifferent tunes, in combination with the reeds, and the shifting devices for changing one tune for another, form the subject of a separate application.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an automatic musical instrument adapted to be governed by a perforated musicsheet, the combination of the reeds, reed-cell's, and bellows with a pedal and means operated by said pedal for opening and closing said cells, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with an automatic musical instrument adapted to be operated by a perforated music-sheet, substantially as shown and described, a feed-roll hinged to the adjacent part of the structure and adapted to facilitate the application or removal of a musicsheet.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with the reeds and bellows and perforated music-sheet, of the pedal D and mechanism put in motion by it, and arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

at. In combination with a perforated musicsheet and two or more sets of reeds, a device for laterally shifting said music-sheet in order to change the key of the composition.

5. The combination, with the perforated music-shcet and reed-cells, of the shaft L, spring-barrel S, and rolls a, f, and L, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of the reeds, the perforated music-sheet, and the levers o with the lever D, constructed and arranged for de pressing the said levers o, for the purpose set forth.

7. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination with a perforated music-sheet, of a rack or frame, which is removable from said music-sheet and carries one of the feed-rolls thereof.

8. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination, with a perforated music-sheet, of a frame or rack which is removable from said sheet, and carries one of the feed-rolls and also a presser bar or roll, substantially as set forth.

9. In an automatic musical instrument, a removable guide frame which directs the movement of the perforated musicsheet, sub stantially as set forth.

10. In an automatic musical instrument, a movable guideframe, in combination with the music-sheet which it guides and the upper feed-roll which it supports, substantially as set forth.

11. In combination with a musical instrument and a music-sheet governing the same, a pair of winding-rolls, to which the ends of the music-sheet are respectively attached, and a pair of feed-rolls, which operate to draw the music-sheet from either one of said windingrolls toward the other at will, one of said winoingrolls being driven by the other and adapted to yield in or on its bearing to compensate for the unequal accumulation of the music-sheet on said windingrolls.

12. In combination with a musical instrument and a music-sheet governing the same, a pair of winding-rolls, to which the ends of the music-sheet are respectively attached, and means for feeding said musicsheet from one of said winding-rolls to the other, the latter winding-roll being driven by the former and adapted to yield in or on its bearings to compensate for the unequal accumulation of the music-sheet on said winding-rolls.

13. In combination with an automatic musical instrument and the music-sheet governing the same, a pair of \vindingrolls, to which the ends of the music-sheet are respectively attached, and a pair of feed-rolls, which operate on said music-sheet, the winding-rolls being free to rotate and in contact with each other, so that the drawing of the music-sheet from one of them will cause the other to rotate also.

14-. In combination with a musical instru ment and the music-sheet governing the same, a pair of winding-rolls, one of which rests against the other, and is movable to automatically compensate for the rolling of the sheet on one of said rolls.

15. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination of a musiesheet and a pair of winding-rolls, one of said rolls resting on the trippers h, in combination with the musio- 10 other, as stated, with two pairs of verticallysheet and the reeds and other operative parts slotted bearings for said rolls. of an automatic musical instrument. 16. In an automatic musical instrument, the

T r 1 T T 1 combination of a treadle and a driving-shaft JOEL MCTAMMABX operated thereby with a perforated music- Witnesses: sheet and rolls operated by said driving-shaft, LOUIS A. CURTIS, substantially as set fort F. HUNNEWELL,

17. The levers 8, provided with the pivoted F. OURTIs. 

